and bore it without a sign. The boys could not help
but admire his heroic mien throughout the trying hour, and when the
bullet was finally cut out and the wound carefully bound up, it looked
as though he tried to thank the Professor for the service.

During the remainder of the afternoon the Professor persisted in the
effort to gain some information, but not the slightest glimpse of
intelligence was extracted.

Finally George said: "I wonder if he has anything in those pouches? We
found some things in the others, you remember." This was a hint not to
be overlooked. A search was made, and among numerous trinkets was a
photograph of a dozen or more young men, and with a shout George
recognized it as one which had been taken on shipboard several weeks
before the explosion on board the _Investigator_, and which sent her to
the bottom.

George and Harry were both in the picture, and were pointed out. Here
was the very thing which was needed as a connecting link in their
interview with the chief. With the picture before him the chief was
requested to look at George and then at the picture, and so in the case
of Harry. The chief saw, and recognized the similarity, and his eyes
opened in astonishment. This was a most remarkable discovery.

When the Professor pointed to the others in the picture, and then to the
chief, the latter seemed for the first time to comprehend, but he slowly
shook his head and grunted, or made use of his own language to indicate
that he had no knowledge of them. The boys were fairly wild with
delight.

"Why not hunt the pockets of the other fellows?" shouted out Harry, as
he scrambled over the tailboard. About a hundred and fifty feet beyond
were the two who had fallen at the first fire, and they were searched,
but nothing in any way connecting them with their companions was
revealed, and later they went over the contents of the chief's pockets
with greater care.

An American coin, a matchbox, and several other articles, which were
apparently the relics of stickpins, were all that had any appreciable
value. There was nothing on any of the articles which had a name or even
the initials to give them a clue. As they were returning to the wagon
Harry picked up a small silver match safe, and on this were the initials
"J L V." "Who is J L V? Did you know of anyone by that name?"

"I don't remember anyone by that name. The name is not an unusual one to
begin with a V."

The Professor did not recall